In Maximum

Robert Louis Stevenson 1850 (Edinburgh) – 1894 (Vailima, Samoa)



WOULDST thou be free?  I think it not, indeed;
But if thou wouldst, attend this simple rede:
When quite contented    }thou canst dine at home
Thou shall be free when }
And drink a small wine of the march of Rome;
When thou canst see unmoved thy neighbour's plate,
And wear my threadbare toga in the gate;
When thou hast learned to love a small abode,
And not to choose a mistress A LA MODE:
When thus contained and bridled thou shalt be,
Then, Maximus, then first shalt thou be free.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

28 sec read
385

Quick analysis:

Scheme AABCBDDEEFF
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 481
Words 93
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 11

Robert Louis Stevenson

Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson was a Scottish novelist, poet, essayist, and travel writer. more…

All Robert Louis Stevenson poems | Robert Louis Stevenson Books

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